After only two months in Sparks, five-year-old Riley Fletcher understands the importance of giving.
At Thursday’s Share Your Bear event, Fletcher gave four stuffed animals to the Calgary Police Service’s Victim Assistance Unit, which will share them with people who have been a witness or a victim of a crime or tragedy.
“We’re teaching the girls to be involved in their community and about service,” said Eileen Johansen, area commissioner for Girl Guides of Canada. “We told them these teddy bears will go to children who need something to love and hang onto.”
Fletcher’s four stuffed animals added to the 6,000 new and gently used teddy bears that were handed over by the Girl Guides and Kids Help Phone.
Sgt. Kyle Grant said the bears break down the barriers between police and victims. “These bears go to families that are lost and feel hurt and alone in situations that are up to and including homicide,” he said.
